ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Chinese President Xi Jinping’s Special Representative and Vice Premier of the State Council of China He Lifeng held a meeting with Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif in Islamabad on Monday.
The conversation was marked by traditional warmth and cordiality that has been the hallmark of Pakistan-China All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership.
During the meeting, the two sides exchanged views on several aspects of bilateral relationship including China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and bilateral economic and financial cooperation.
Welcoming the Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng to Pakistan, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif congratulated him on being promoted as the Vice Premier of China in March this year.
Appreciating China’s support for Pakistan’s economic development, the prime minister observed that as strategic partners and trusted friends, the two Countries have always stood by each other in difficult times, as evidenced by Chinese support to Pakistan in the aftermath of COVID-19 pandemic and devastating floods in Pakistan.
Noting the unanimity of views between the two Countries on regional issues, both leaders reiterated their resolve to support each other on all issues of their core interests.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Vice-Premier of State Council of China, He Lifeng in tête-à-tête meeting at Prime Minister’s House Islamabad, today.#DecadeOfCPEC pic.twitter.com/fX2hEyntVX
— Prime Minister’s Office (@PakPMO) July 31, 2023
In his remarks, the Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng conveyed President Xi Jinping’s message of China’s firm support to Pakistan’s prosperity and development.
The vice premier underlined that Pakistan-China friendship was unique and has withstood the vicissitude of time due to deep fraternal ties between the peoples of two nations.
The Chinese vice premier reiterated that as an iron-brother and strategic partner, China would continue its existing economic and financial support to Pakistan.
Welcoming the prime minister’s vision for deepening trade and investment ties with Pakistan, He Lifeng conveyed China’s willingness to enhance Pakistan’s agro and food exports to China.
Expressing satisfaction at the steady development of CPEC projects in Pakistan, the two sides agreed on the centrality of CPEC for Pakistan’s socio-economic development and expressed their firm commitment to continue working together for realizing its shared objectives.
It was also agreed that 10th anniversary of CPEC celebrations constituted a fresh starting point to further expand CPEC as envisaged by the leadership of the two Countries.
The Chinese delegation included the Deputy Secretary General of the State Council of China Guo Wei, the Vice Minister of Foreign Ministry Sun Weidong, the Vice Chairman National Development & Reform Commission Cong Liang, the Deputy Governor of the People’s Bank of China Xuan Changneng, the Deputy Governor of the People’s Bank of China Wang Kebing, the Director General of the Department of Asian Affairs of the Ministry of Commerce Wang Liping, the Charge d’Affaires at the Chinese Embassy Islamabad Pang Chunxue, and other senior Chinese officials.
The Pakistan side included the Minister for Foreign Affairs Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the Minister for Commerce Syed Naveed Qamar, the Minister for Finance Muhammad Ishaq Dar, the Minister for Interior Rana Sanaullah Khan, the Minister for Information Marriyum Aurangzeb, the Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal, the Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar, the Prime Minister’s Special Assistant Syed Tariq Fatemi, and senior officials from relevant ministries.
After the meeting, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and the Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng oversaw the ceremony for signing of agreements, Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) and other documents covering areas including agriculture; industrial cooperation; transport connectivity, etc.
Later, the prime minister hosted a luncheon in honour of He Lifeng and the accompanying delegation.
